In this captivating study of one of our most popular music genres

Sheila Tracy goes behind the scenes and talks to over 60 Americans who played with the most famous big bands - and who lived to tell the tale. This was no mean feat: swing music's huge popularity brought the performers wild adulation and, for many, resorting to drugs and alcohol was the only way to keep up.

These musicians relate their incredible experiences of life on the road, where the pressure to party every night was enormous.